Resource Summary 1

Italy tightens noose on the Cosa Nostra by Nick Squires

In his article “Italy tightens noose on the Cosa Nostra,” Nick Squires argues and offers proof that the Italian government is waging war on the mafia, and that the Cosa Nostra is in trouble. Additionally, he gives meaning to the suicide of perspective mafia don, Gaetano Lo Presti and insight into the inner workings of mafia revenge and promotion. Squires first outlines the raid on the leadership council meeting that happened in December of 2008. There were 90 senior Mafiosi arrested in the raid, damaging the family. In 2006, Bernardo Provenazo, the mafia don at the time, was arrested. A few months later, his successor, Salvatore Lo Piccolo, was captured. The Cosa Nostra were brought to their knees in 2006 and with this blow they haven’t been able to get back to their feet. Currently, there is no leader and many are vying for the position. At the same time, the Sicilian citizens have started to resist Cosa Nostra control, refusing to pay the “pizzo” tax. And on top of that, millions of pounds of mafia assets have been seized, including a villa once owned by Riina. Essentially, the Cosa Nostra organization is in shambles and it has been surpassed in both power and ruthlessness. However, the Cosa Nostra have not lost it completely and will enact revenge on their own members if deemed necessary. There is some debate as to why Presti committee suicide, as it is usually discouraged by the mafia, as “machismo” is a large part of their culture. Turns out, Presti was recorded saying that he was planning to kill the supporters of his rival within the family. The mafia does not forgive or forget and this tape meant that either Presti had to die, or his family would suffer. This is supposedly why Presti took his own life, but is it enough to satisfy the already-threatened Cosa Nostra?